I am curious to find out how many people have actually had their band for 5 years or more and how did it change their life. What is the major difference and do you really change your eating habits? Is it safe to have this band for life or does it have complications if you leave it in your body for so long?

Many people in Europe have had the band longer than that, but not many in the US. There are a few in the Dallas area because they were part of the first LB studies done in the US prior to the approval. The one I know of personally is doing great.....she's a wls support coordinator for a doctor in Dallas.

So how long has this been around? Is it possible to take it out once you reach your goal weight? I am just kinda scared that my stomach will choke and that i would die.

It's been in the US about 5-6 yrs. And, yes, it's possible to take it out at any time, but why would you want to?!! If it's working and helping you keep your weight down and helping you keep your health, you won't ever want to let it go. Stomachs don't 'choke,' the blood supply is not cut off. In case of serious illness, it is possible to remove the saline from the band and do away with the restriction...it's not necessary to go in and remove the band in most cases.

You really need to do some research on the Lapband and how it works (there is a video on the net that shows a doctor putting it in). You might want to go to ObesityHelp.com and click on the LapBand information pages that explain how the various surgeries work. You also need to understand that the band is just a tool....there is a definitie lifestyle change necessary after the band is inserted and you are given restriction...you must eat sensibly. It's just much easier to do since you have a small pouch to keep happy not a big ol stomach. And if you'll eliminate the white carbs from your diet, you'll eliminate a lot of the cravings you may now have. You also must eliminate carbonated drinks for the rest of your life. And you will probably need to supplement your diet with Protein and Vitamins to maintain good health.

Please do some serious studying, read 2-3 different boards, attend doctor's seminars and spend a lot of time thinking about how willing you are to commit to the changes required to be a successful loser.

Thank you so much for all of your advice. It really does help me a lot. There are sure angels out there!

Hi, The Lapband has been around in Australia since the early 90's. The head of the clinical practice who performed my surgery helped with the design of the original band. The lap band has proven to be safe and effective. There is no known side effects from having it in your body.

Good luck with it.

Susannah

Susannah, I am a banded person who talks highly about banding. My girl has had RNY for about 4 years. I belive that you are right about the band being safe inside your body. Their are sometimes problems with banding. The band may not be rejected by the body, but it may "slip", "leak", and cause other problems. The rate of problems is small. The most complaints seem to be that it takes a long time to reach the "sweet spot" of restriction. People want to say that the Doctors are taking too long to fill them. To say it over, I belive that the band is a great tool and I recomend it.

Two sisters I know were banded in 2001. Both still have their bands. One is having some problems (believed to be caused by the materials the bands were made with then), the other is doing just fine. One has gone from larger than a size 36 to a size zero, the other went from a 28 to a 14 and is now back up to a 22. (Roughly, anyway - I haven't spoken with them in a while so things may have changed since)